stem

1. 1. The main ascending axis of a plant; a stalk or trunk.
   2. A slender stalk supporting or connecting another plant part, such as a leaf or flower.
2. A banana stalk bearing several bunches of bananas.
3. A connecting or supporting part, especially:
   1. The tube of a tobacco pipe.
   2. The slender upright support of a wineglass or goblet.
   3. The small projecting shaft with an expanded crown by which a watch is wound.
   4. The rounded rod in the center of certain locks about which the key fits and is turned.
   5. The shaft of a feather or hair.
   6. The upright stroke of a typeface or letter.
   7. Music. The vertical line extending from the head of a note.
4. The main line of descent of a family.
5. Linguistics. The main part of a word to which affixes are added.
6. Nautical. The curved upright beam at the fore of a vessel into which the hull timbers are scarfed to form the prow.
7. The tubular glass structure mounting the filament or electrodes in an incandescent bulb or vacuum tube.

To have or take origin or descent.

1. To remove the stem of.
2. To provide with a stem.
3. To make headway against: managed to stem the rebellion.

from stem to stern

1. From one end to another.

[Middle English, from Old English stefn, stemn.]

SYNONYMS  stem, arise, derive, emanate, flow, issue, originate, proceed, rise, spring. These verbs mean to come forth or come into being: customs that stem from the past; misery that arose from war; rights that derive from citizenship; disapproval that emanated from the teacher; happiness that flows from their friendship; prejudice that issues from fear; a proposal that originated in the Congress; a mistake that proceeded from carelessness; rebellion that rises in the provinces; new industries that spring up.

1. To stop or hold back by or as if by damming; stanch.
2. To plug or tamp (a blast hole, for example).
3. Sports. To point (skis) inward.

To point skis inward in order to slow down or turn.

[Middle English stemmen, from Old Norse stemma.]

The organ of vascular plants that usually develops branches and bears leaves and flowers. On woody stems a branch that is the current season's growth from a bud is called a twig. The stems of some species produce adventitious roots. See also Root (botany).

General characteristics

While most stems are erect, aerial structures, some remain underground, others creep over or lie prostrate on the surface of the ground, and still others are so short and inconspicuous that the plants are said to be stemless, or acaulescent. When stems lie flattened immediately above but not on the ground, with tips curved upward, they are said to be decumbent, as in juniper. If stems lie flat on the ground but do not root at the nodes (joints), the stem is called procumbent or prostrate, as in purslane. If a stem creeps along the ground, rooting at the nodes, it is said to be repent or creeping, as in ground ivy.

Most stems are cylindrical and tapering, appearing circular in cross section; others may be quadrangular or triangular.

Herbaceous stems (annuals and herbaceous perennials) die to the ground after blooming or at the end of the growing season. They usually contain little woody tissue. Woody stems (perennials) have considerable woody supporting tissue and live from year to year. A woody plant with no main stem or trunk, but usually with several stems developed from a common base at or near the ground, is known as a shrub.

External features

A shoot or branch usually consists of a stem, or axis, and leafy appendages. Stems have several distinguishing features. They arise either from the epicotyl of the embryo in a seed or from buds. The stem bears both leaves and buds at nodes, which are separated by leafless regions or internodes, and sometimes roots and flowers (see illustration).

Winter woody twig (horse chestnut) showing apical dominance. (After E. W. Sinnott and K. S. Wilson, Botany: Principles and Problems, 5th ed., McGraw-Hill, 1955)

The nodes are the regions of the primary stem where leaves and buds arise. The number of leaves at a node is usually specific for each plant species. In deciduous plants which are leafless during winter, the place of former attachment of a leaf is marked by the leaf scar. The scar is formed in part by the abscission zone formed at the base of the leaf petiole. The stem regions between nodes are called internodes. Internode length varies greatly among species, in different parts of the same stem, and under different growing conditions.

Lenticels are small, slightly raised or ridged regions of the stem surface that are composed of loosely arranged masses of cells in the bark. Their intercellular spaces are continuous with those in the interior of the stem, therefore permitting gas exchange similar to the stomata that are present before bark initiation.

There are three major types of stem branching: dichoto-mous, monopodial, and sympodial. Dichotomy occurs by a division of the apical meristem to form two new axes. If the terminal bud of an axis continues to grow and lateral buds grow out as branches, the branching is called monopodial. If the apical bud terminates growth in a flower or dies back and one or more axillary buds grow out, the branching is called sympodial. Often only one bud develops so that what appears to be single axis is in fact composed of a series of lateral branches arranged in linear sequence.

The large and conspicuous stems of trees and shrubs assume a wide variety of distinctive forms. Columnar stems are basically unbranched and form a terminal leaf cluster, as in palms, or lack obvious leaves, as in cacti. Branching stems have been classified either as excurrent, when there is a central trunk and a conical leaf crown, as in firs and other conifers, or as decur-rent (or deliquescent), when the trunk quickly divides up into many separate axes so that the crown lacks a central trunk, as in elm. See also Tree.

Internal features

The stem is composed of the three fundamental tissue systems that are found also in all other plant organs: the dermal (skin) system, consisting of epidermis in young stems and peridem in older stems of many species; the vascular (conducting) system, consisting of xylem (water conduction) and phloem (food conduction); and the fundamental or ground tissue system, consisting of parenchyma and sclerenchyma tissues in which the vascular tissues are embedded. The arrangement of the vascular tissues varies in stems of different groups of plants, but frequently these tissues form a hollow cylinder enclosing a region of ground tissue called pith and separated from the dermal tissue by another region of ground tissue called cortex. See also Cortex (plant); Epidermis (plant); Parenchyma; Phloem; Pith; Sclerenchyma; Xylem.

Part of the growth of the stem results from the activity of the apical meristem located at the tip of the shoot. The derivatives of this meristem are the primary tissues; epidermis, primary vascular tissues, and the ground tissues of the cortex and pith. In many species, especially those having woody stems, secondary tissues are added to the primary. These tissues are derived from the lateral meristems, oriented parallel with the sides of the stem: cork cambium (phellogen), which gives rise to the secondary protective tissue periderm, which consists of phellum (cork), phellogen (cork cambium), and phelloderm (secondary cortex) and which replaces the epidermis; and vascular cambium, which is inserted between the primary xylem and phloem and forms secondary xylem (wood) and phloem. See also Apical meristem; Lateral meristem.

The vascular tissues and the closely associated ground tissues—pericycle (on the outer boundary of vascular region), interfascicular regions (medullary or pith rays), and frequently also the pith—may be treated as a unit called the stele. The variations in the arrangement of the vascular tissues serve as a basis for distinguishing the stelar types. The word stele means column and thus characterizes the system of vascular and associated ground tissues as a column. This column is enclosed within the cortex, which is not part of the stele. See also Pericycle.

noun

The main part of a word to which affixes are attached: base¹, root¹, theme. See words.

verb

To have as a source: arise, come, derive, emanate, flow, issue, originate, proceed, rise, spring, upspring. See start/end.

Idioms beginning with stem:
stem the tide

In addition to the idiom beginning with stem, also see from soup to nuts (stem to stern).

Definition: stalk of plant
Antonyms: root

v

Definition: come from
Antonyms: cause

v

Definition: prevent, stop
Antonyms: abet, aid, encourage, help

n. the main upright timber or metal piece at the bow of a ship, to which the ship's sides are joined.

(of a boat) make headway against (the tide or current).

from stem to stern from the front to the back, especially of a ship:

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

For more information on stem, visit Britannica.com.

The web, 1 of a structural tee.

Stalk; a stalklike supporting structure.

• brain s. — see brainstem.

The main axis of a plant from which leaves and flowers grow. Stems can take many forms, from the trunk of a pine tree to the runners of a honeysuckle vine or the creeping rhizome of an iris.

Skiing technique
Stem Snowplough turn Stem Christie Parallel turn Carve turn Telemark turn Pivot turn

The stem technique in skiing is a method for turning the skier. It is usually credited to Mathias Zdarsky, from Austria, who invented it in the 1890s. Its variations gradually replaced the telemark technique in Alpine skiing.

The technique involves stemming the uphill ski. Stemming is pushing the tail of the ski outward—skidding it across snow—from a parallel position with the downhill ski to form a V shape, where the tips of the skis are close together and the tails far apart. Initially the stemming ski has relatively little pressure applied—much less than half the skier's weight. After the ski is stemmed, most of the skiers weight is then transferred to it in order to initiate a change in direction.

Stem variants

The three variations of the stem turn are:

• The Snowplough - (also known as the wedge) - see snowplough turn
• The Snowplough turn - (also known as the wedge turn or stem turn)
• The Stem Christie

The three variants together formed the basis of the Austrian Arlberg Technique and instruction system developed by Johannes Schneider.

See also

• Parallel turn - more advanced
• Skiing

References

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Dansk (Danish)
1.
n. - stilk, stamme, stængel, mundstykke, nodehals, stævn, forstavn
v. intr. - stamme fra
v. tr. - afstilke, stemme, vinde frem, arbejde sig op mod

idioms:

• from stem to stern    fra for til agter

2.
v. tr. - opdæmme, stemme op, standse
v. intr. - stemme imod

idioms:

• stem the flow of blood    stoppe blodgennemløbet

Nederlands (Dutch)
steel, steven, afstamming, stam, afdammen, tegengaan, afstammen van, ski naar buiten bewegen voor bocht of afremming

Français (French)
1.
n. - tige, queue, pied (de verre), tuyau (d'une plume), queue (de note), (Ling) radical, étrave
v. intr. - provenir de, être causé par
v. tr. - (Naut) avancer contre (marée), (Culin) équeuter

idioms:

• from stem to stern    de la poupe à la proue

2.
v. tr. - arrêter, (fig) enrayer, contenir (protestation), endiguer
v. intr. - faire un (virage) stem (en ski)

idioms:

• stem the flow of blood    arrêter l'écoulement de sang

Deutsch (German)
1.
n. - Stengel, Stiel, Stamm
v. - entstielen, entstengeln

idioms:

• from stem to stern    vom Bug bis zum Heck

2.
v. - eindämmen, aufhalten, (entgegen)stemmen

idioms:

• stem the flow of blood    Blutung aufhören

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - κοτσάνι, μίσχος, στέλεχος, κουρδιστήρι (ρολογιού χειρός), γραμμή καταγωγής, πόδι/κολόνα ποτηριού, (γραμμ.) θέμα (λέξης), (ναυτ.) στείρα, κοράκι της πλώρης
v. - αναχαιτίζω, συγκρατώ, εκβλαστάνω, εκφύομαι, αφαιρώ τους μίσχους (από φυτό), εκπηγάζω, απορρέω, προκύπτω

idioms:

• from stem to stern    (καθομ.) απ' άκρου εις άκρον
• stem the flow of blood    περιορίζω/σταματώ την αιμορραγία

Italiano (Italian)
arginare, stelo, prua, radicale, radice, tema

idioms:

• from stem to stern    da capo a piedi

Português (Portuguese)
n. - talo (m)
v. - deter

idioms:

• from stem to stern    de popa à proa

Русский (Russian)
ствол, стебель, стержень, плодоножка, род, линия родства, подставка, рукоятка, форштевень, происходить (от), запруживать, останавливать

idioms:

• from stem to stern    от носа до кормы

Español (Spanish)
1.
n. - tallo
v. intr. - provenir, derivar, nacer
v. tr. - desgranar, despalillar, quitar los pedúnculos, embestir por la proa, navegar contra la corriente

idioms:

• from stem to stern    de proa a popa, de cabo a rabo

2.
v. tr. - retener, contener, represar
v. intr. - detenerse, contenerse

idioms:

• stem the flow of blood    detener el flujo de sangre, detener la hemorragia

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - skaft, stäv, stam, släkt, plogåkning
v. - stämma, stoppa, sträva emot, bromsa gm plogåkning

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
1. 茎, 柄, 干, 高脚酒杯的脚, 杆, 把, 烟斗柄, 起源于, 由...而造成, 抽去...的梗, 逆...而行, 给...装柄, 顶着...而上

idioms:

• from stem to stern    从头到尾, 完全
• stem the flow of blood    把血止住

2. 堵住, 拦住, 把向内转, 阻挡, 遏止, 逆行

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
1.
n. - 莖, 柄, 幹, 高腳酒杯的腳, 杆, 把, 煙斗柄
v. intr. - 起源於, 由...而造成
v. tr. - 抽去...的梗, 逆...而行, 給...裝柄, 頂著...而上

idioms:

• from stem to stern    從頭到尾, 完全
• stem the flow of blood    把血止住

2.
v. tr. - 堵住, 攔住, 把向內轉, 阻擋, 遏止
v. intr. - 堵住, 逆行

한국어 (Korean)
1.
n. - 줄기, 잎자루, 뱃머리
v. intr. - (사건이) 생기다, 일어나다, 유래하다
v. tr. - 줄기를 떼어내다

2.
v. tr. - 막다, 저지하다, 저항하다
v. intr. - (스키에서)제어하다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 茎, 果柄, 茎に似たもの, 軸, 船首材, 船首, 語幹, 血統, 花柄
v. - 茎を取り去る, 由来する, せき止める, 逆らって進む, 制動回転させる, 止まる

idioms:

• from stem to stern    船首から船尾まで, 隅から隅まで
• stem blood    血統

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) ساق النبات, عنق الكأس, , الجزء الأصلي لكلمه (فعل) نشأ عن, أوقف تدفق‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮גבעול, פטוטרת, קנה-הגביע, זרוע-המקטרת, שורש-מלה, קורת-החרטום, שושלת, תא לא מפותח (ביולוגיה), קו אנכי וצר (באות/תו)‬
v. intr. - ‮נבע מ-, נגרם ע"י‬
v. tr. - ‮הסיר גבעולים, השיט (ספינה) מול (גיאות או זרם)‬
v. tr. - ‮הפסיק, סכר, חסם, הדף‬
v. intr. - ‮היטה מגלש או מגלשיים כלפי חוץ כדי לפנות הצדה, להאט או לעצור את ההחלקה‬

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